Students, faculty, staff and community members chanted and cheered in front of Mary Graydon Center yesterday as the men's basketball team departed for Birmingham, Ala., to play in their first-ever NCAA tournament game on Friday.
Student Government President Joe Vidulich said he was excited about the historic run of the men's basketball team.
"When I watch the video of people storming the court and the clock go down to zero and Brian [Gilmore] catching that loose ball, I get chills every single time," he said. "The fact is a lot of things that have happened this year are unbelievable."
Mark Meyer, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said when he found out AU was going to the NCAA tournament, he was so excited he could barely keep his clothes on.
"When I found out we won - I watched the game from Minnesota - I ran around my house, shirtless actually, and some people thought I was naked," he said. "It was a good time."
Maria Consuelo Gall, an administrative assistant for the Department of Language and Foreign Studies, held a sign that said "Good Luck Eagles. LFS will be rooting for you!" as Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" looped from speakers on the MGC steps.
"I came to the game on Friday and I loved it," she said. "It was wonderful. I hope they put our name way up high."
AU President Neil Kerwin said this well-publicized trip to the NCAA tournament would help improve AU's image.
"Every bit of incremental press helps us," Kerwin said. "It points people to the institution. When they learn more about the institution, they understand what a remarkable place this is."
Vidulich said the basketball team's success is good for the university as a whole.
"If you don't like basketball, that's fine," he said. "But what you have to at least acknowledge is what the men on this team have done is that they are raising the quality of your degree."
Senior forward Travis Lay thanked the crowd assembled for their support.
"We're just excited that everyone came out here today and supported us," he said. "At the game the other night, the crowd was ridiculous and we were definitely excited about that."
A sizeable amount of students will make the trip to Birmingham to cheer on Lay and the rest of the Eagles, Vidulich said.
"About 150 students are making the trek either by car or bus to join the team as they try to continue their historic run," he said.
For fans unable to travel to Birmingham, the No. 15 seeded Eagles will play the No. 2-seeded University of Tennessee Volunteers on CBS at 12:15 p.m. Friday. There will be viewing sites around campus. Additionally, the NCAA will stream the game free of charge on its Web site.
